The globally influential Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) was co-founded by him.

And generations of musicians drew inspiration from the pioneering work of Chicago composer and multi-instrumentalist Kelan Phil Cohran. He died Wednesday at the University of Chicago Hospital at 90, said his son Tycho Cohran.

"He was a major contributor to the whole structure and the idea" of the AACM, said Muhal Richard Abrams, another co-founder of an organization that changed the course of music starting in 1965.

"I think he had a profound influence on many organized groups," added Abrams. "They more or less cut their teeth in Chicago, and their major influence was Phil Cohran."

Said Chicago percussionist-bandleader Kahil El'Zabar, who helped organize a 90th birthday tribute to Cohran on May 8 at St. Adalbert's Church on West 17th Street: "He was an innovative cultural institution unto himself."

That's not an exaggeration, considering that Cohran played and recorded with the groundbreaking Sun Ra Arkestra in the late 1950s; invented an instrument he dubbed the Frankiphone — a version of an African kalimba or "thumb piano," which White brought to Earth, Wind & Fire; created the Affro-Arts Theater, which in the 1960s was a South Side epicenter of experimental arts; and founded the Artistic Heritage Ensemble, which influenced bands as far-flung as El'Zabar's avant-garde Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and Earth, Wind & Fire.

John Blackwell Jr. joined Prince’s band, The New Power Generation, in 2000.

John Blackwell Jr., longtime drummer for Prince, died Tuesday after being diagnosed with a brain tumor one year ago. He was 43.

His passing was announced on his Instagram page by his wife, Yaritza, who thanked fans and friends for their support.

A native of Columbia, South Carolina and an alumnus of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Blackwell joined Prince’s band, The New Power Generation, in 2000. The two collaborated for 15 years, during which time Blackwell also performed alongside other pop stars like Justin Timberlake and Patti LaBelle.

Last year, following a performance in Tokyo, Blackwell was diagnosed with two brain tumors and was forced to retire after doctors removed a portion of his brain while removing the tumors, costing him use of his left arm. A GoFundMe page had been started to help Blackwell and his family pay for the treatment and rehab procedures, with the page earning over $80,000 in donations.

Blackwell’s death has been met with tributes from his peers, including Morris Day and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker.

Tijn Kolsteren (6) melted hearts last year at Serious Request with his nail-varnish-fundraiser. The terminally ill boy had raised 2.5 million euros for ill children. Recently he started another charity action, selling nail varnish for 10 euros per jar for charity (a machine that helps cure the brain stem cancer that would kill him), yesterday it was announced that they had reached their 1 million euro target that way.

Nelsan Ellis, the actor who lit up the screen on HBO's vampire drama "True Blood," has died at age 39.

The cause of death was complications from heart failure, his manager, Emily Gerson Saines, told CNN.

Ellis had roles in several movies during his career, including "Get on Up," "Lee Daniels' The Butler" and "The Help." But he was best known for his performance on "True Blood" as Lafayette, a cook and medium whose tell-it-like-it-is attitude made him a favorite among the television show's fans.

Linkin Park Frontman Chester Bennington Found Dead of Apparent Suicide at the age of 41

*here's the kicker- he was a close friend of Chris Cornell who died 2 mos. ago. Today July 20th the day he died was Chris Cornell's birthday. Bennington also died from a hanging-so grim. He even spoke and sang at Cornell's funeral

^^^ Maybe hedonistic '80's hair metal wasn't so bad after all. Having a good time, no matter how silly, seems like such a better alternative than all the presumed aesthetically superior and serious rock of the '90's and afterwards leading to the apparent graduation to suicide or overdose. Somebody better keep an eye on Eddie Vedder. He's the only one left.

^^^ Maybe hedonistic '80's hair metal wasn't so bad after all. Having a good time, no matter how silly, seems like such a better alternative than all the presumed aesthetically superior and serious rock of the '90's and afterwards leading to the apparent graduation to suicide or overdose. Somebody better keep an eye on Eddie Vedder. He's the only one left.

Eddie's Vedder's a down to earth kind of guy, he has and loves his family and is surrounded by good people.....(met him five or six years ago, definitely not your archetypical rock star)

Long Live Eddie Vedder

(rumored to own a Roxy SG)

RIP Chester.....

_________________hey punk, where you going with that borscht on your shirt?

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